It’s time to pull the plug

Millions of Americans already have received notices that, because of Obamacare, the health insurance policies they have will not be renewed. They will have to buy new government-approved coverage – at higher cost.

But the White House insists the number of people affected is insignificant – just 5 percent of the population, as spokesman Jay Carney pointed out.

Analysts say about 15.8 million Americans may be affected by the problem. That is not an insignificant number.

But, insist President Barack Obama and his liberal allies, the new health care law will help many, many people. Government subsidies will be provided for those who cannot afford insurance, they explain.

This week, the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation released a report estimating the subsidies will be available to about 17 million people.

That’s only slightly more than 5 percent of the population. It is roughly equal to the number who are being forced – many without subsidies – to replace their existing insurance policies.

In other words, in one important way, Obamacare is going to hurt about as many Americans as it helps. Is that good enough? Congress needs to pull the plug on Obamacare.